4771) "2027 Lunar Year of the Goat", Macau, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, known for its unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese heritage: 1/2 oz 999.9 Fine Gold Proof Colour Coin with Crystal Ring and 5 oz 999.9 Fine Silver Proof Colour Coin celebrates the Lunar Year of the Goat: Date/Year of Coins issue: 12/2026:
"The Lunar Year of the Sheep":
The Zodiac cycle renews itself every 12 years and, as such, the third series will conclude with the 2028 release.
This is the year which is represented by the 12-animal lunar zodiac, the "Year of the Goat" is considered special.
How does the Lunar Calendar or Chinese Zodiac Cycle work?
I consulted some of the books which have been kept in my personal library and got acquainted with some interesting facts about the Chinese Zodiac/Lunar Calendar:
The exact origins of the 12 animal signs is rather lost in the obscurity of time, but there is no doubt that they originated in China. In terms of the Chinese astrological "history", the 12 animals are of a rather recent introduction - for it seems that in the 2nd Century BC, Ssu Ma Chi'en (163-85 BC), who was the grand astrologer to Emperor Wu Ti, wrote the Shi Chi or "historical record" up to that time. In this book, there is no "Zodiac" or mention of the 12 animals.
Originally, the 12-year cycle that it takes the planet Jupiter to complete one orbit of the Sun was believed to have defined the earlier calendars. The Chinese still call this cycle "The Great Year" and each month corresponds to one of our own years.
By the 10th Century AD, however, after Buddhism had been established in China, Calendar Almanacs, such as those written by Tibetan monks in exile in the "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas" monastery in the remote reaches of North-western China, depicting the 12 animals, came into existence.
The legend of the Conference of animals called by the Buddha and naming of the 12-year cycle after 12 animals for the Chinese Lunar Calendar:
According to a legend, it was the Buddha (583-463 BC), who created the 12-animal cycle.
He is believed to have invited all the animals in the land to hold a conference together. The Buddha was not surprised, as in his wisdom, he knew that some of the animals were friendly towards others, while others were inimical/enemies.
To encourage attendance, he decided to name the years after the first twelve animals, in order of their arrival.
An invitation from the Buddha was hard to resist, and when they heard the news, all the animals set off at once, each determined to be the first to arrive.
Tiger, because of his energy and speed, at first took the lead. Soon, though, he began to tire and the early lead that he had achieved over his next rival Ox, who may have been slow, but had great stamina, soon dissipated. Ox reached the Buddha ahead of Tiger and prepared to bow down low to receive his honour.
But, what the sturdy Ox did not know was that clever Rat had sneaked a ride on his tail!!
Just before Ox's nose touched the floor at the Buddha's feet, nimble and swift Rat ran up the Ox's tail, along his back and jumped off his nose, thus winning the race to be the first to bow before the Buddha.
So Rat (or "Tze" or "Xi" is its Chinese name"), became the first animal in the Chinese Lunar Calendar/Zodiac, followed by a rather resentful Ox ("Chou").
Tiger ("Yin"), Rabbit ("Mao"), Dragon ("Chen"), Snake ("Si"), Horse ("Wu"), Goat ("Wei"), Monkey ("Shen"), Rooster ("You"), Dog ("Xu") and Pig ("Hu"), all followed, and in that order, paid homage to the Buddha and were each honoured with a year.
Interestingly, Dragon is the only mythical beast in the Chinese Circle of Zodiacal animals.
According to the Lunar or Chinese Zodiac, each year is assigned to the above-referred animals, in accordance to a 12-year cycle:
The lunar calendar is 12 months long, with each month corresponding roughly to one cycle of the Moon's movement - from a new moon, through to a full Moon and back to a new Moon.
The lunar calendar is also known as the agricultural calendar as it divides the year into seasons. Agriculture was the principal economy of ancient China.
Even today, the lunar calendar still has great significance for the Chinese people, who use it to set the luckiest dates for traditional events and activities, such as weddings, funerals, launching new ventures and moving to a new house.
About the Lunar Year of the Goat:
Though the grains belonged to the heavens, the Goat took them out of compassion, choosing to help humanity even at personal risk. This act of kindness became its defining trait in the Chinese zodiac.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Goat is a symbol of steadiness, compassion, and creative insight; in 2027, these qualities are enriched by the Fire element that adds warmth, motivation, and a spark of inspiration to everything the Goat touches.
People born in the Year of the Goat are known for their gentle wisdom and quiet determination—they solve problems with grace, stay true to their values, and uplift those around them. The Goat’s legacy of nurturing the world is thoughtfully reflected on the reverse of this 99.99% pure gold kilo coin, where a flame motif and lucky flowers symbolise creativity, abundance, and the promise of growth.
Symbolising gentleness and peace in Chinese culture, the Goat represents artistic, compassionate, and nurturing individuals. A popular myth tells of a divine Goat bringing five types of life-improving grains to humanity out of compassion. The design incorporates carnations—for love and devotion—on the Goat's body, along with a hint of the auspicious fire motif for the 2027 Fire Goat year.
What is a Fire Goat (or Sheep or Ram):
A "Fire Goat" is a specific Chinese zodiac sign that combines the Goat (or Sheep) with the Fire element, occurring in years like 1967, 2027, and 2087. It represents gentleness, creativity, and care infused with fire’s warmth, charisma, and urgency.
In zodiac tradition, the Fire Goat is associated with harmony, creativity, and quiet resilience, making this 2027 issue a graceful emblem of spark and confidence.
Like the Fire Goat, let your creativity lead the way in 2027.
More on the Year of the Goat Coins:
- 2027 is the Lunar Year of the Goat, the eighth sign in the Chinese Zodiac.
- Also referred to as the Sheep or Ram, people born in the Year of the Goat are said to be creative, compassionate and gentle.
- They are believed to have a calm and harmonious nature, are deeply empathetic and quietly resilient.
- Famous international Goats include entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates, tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, and musicians Norah Jones and Ed Sheeran.
The Coins:
Macau Lunar Goat 1/2 oz 999.9 Fine Gold Proof Colour Coin with Crystal Ring:
The 4th Macau Lunar Coin Series (2020-2031) is issued by the Monetary Authority of Macau and exclusively minted by The Singapore Mint.
The 4th Lunar Coin Series demonstrates the characteristics of Macau’s World Heritage Sites and showcases the unique blend of Macau’s Chinese and Portuguese culture through tasteful design elements and innovative craftsmanship.
The Reverse design of the coin features the serene goat, portrayed in soft beige combined with vibrantly coloured Portuguese-style patterned tiles that exudes sophistication and grace.
The Obverse design of the coin features Sam Kai Vui Kun (Kuan Tai Temple), which is intricately minted with high relief technique. The temple’s side angle perspective elegantly captures the entrance of Sam Kai Vui Kun on the coin design, presenting its distinctive charm and historical significance
Weight: 15.55 g
Diameter: 29.00 mm
Product Type: Proof / Proof-Like Medal
Material: 999.9 Fine Gold
Finishing: Proof
Mintage: 5000 pcs
Year: 2027
Country Of Issue: Macau, (SAR) China
Face Value: 500 Patacas
Special Effects: Coloured and Embellished with a Sparkling Gold Crystal Ring
Stocks available Dec 2026
This Macau Lunar Goat coin is embellished with a sparkling gold crystal ring, creating a dazzling collection!
Macau Lunar Goat 5 oz 999 Fine Silver Proof Colour Coin with Crystal
The Specifications of the Silver Coin are:
Weight: 155.52 g
Diameter: 65.00 mm
Product Type: Proof / Proof-Like Medal
Material: 999 Fine Silver
Finishing: Proof
Mintage: 3000 pcs
Year: 2027
Country Of Issue: Macau, (SAR) China
Face Value: 100 Patacas
Special Effects: Coloured and Embellished with a Sparkling Crystal
Links:
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
Links to posts on "The Year of the Horse -Wu":
Lunar Year of the Goat - Wei:
Blog Post Links:
Links to posts from the East India Company on Trade Dollars:
3) French Trade Dollars: Niue Island in partnership with the East India Company Bullion Ltd. has issued the Fifth Coin in the five-coin series titled "The Trade Dollar Collection" depicting five Trade Dollar Coins which shaped commerce in various parts of the world: A Gold 250 Dollar and a Silver 1 Dollar Coin issued in 2020 depicting the French Trade Dollar
1) The Travels of a silver Mexican Peso:1898 restruck in 1949
2) Ancient Chinese, Indian and Islamic coins at the Shanghai Museum
3) A Road trip to Himachal - Manali, Dharmshala, Simla
4) coins-and-currency-of the SAR of-Hong-Kong
5) Coins and Currency of the SAR of Macau
6) Yuan Shih-Kai or "Fatman" or "Big Head" silver dollar
7) Currency of the People's Republic of China - Yuan, Jiao & Fen
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very detailed and informative post."
Thank you so much Trikha sahab.
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